--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For here we are not afraid to follow…" description: "\"For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead…\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/thomas-jefferson-43_afraid_for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-tru_30059.jpg" --- # For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may… ![“For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/thomas-jefferson-43_afraid_for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-tru_30059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/thomas-jefferson-43_afraid_for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-tru_30059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/thomas-jefferson-43_afraid_for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-tru_30059.jpg) > “For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead…” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A call to pursue truth without fear of its implications, emphasizing intellectual courage. **In simple terms:** Courageous pursuit of truth Key Takeaway Seek truth despite discomfort Themes Intellectual honesty Courage Exploration Freedom of thought Mood Inspired Resolute Type Philosophical Motivational When to use this quote - Philosophical debates - Scientific research - Political reform Key Concepts Truth Fearlessness Inquiry Practical Applications - Encouraging open inquiry - Guiding ethical decision-making Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be unafraid of truth? - How can societies foster truth‑seeking cultures? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“When describing the University of Virginia: Here, We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-describing-the-university-of-virginia-here-we-are-not-afraid-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I propose to beg no question to shrink from no conclusion, but to follow truth wherever it may lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/i-propose-to-beg-no-question-to-shrink-from-no-conclusion-but-to/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) > [This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/this-institution-will-be-based-on-the-illimitable-freedom-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/this-institution-will-be-based-on-the-illimitable-freedom-of-the-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-was-bold-in-the-pursuit-of-knowledge-never-fearing-to-follow-truth-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The truth will lead me to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-truth-will-lead-me-to-all/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Keep one thing in view forever- the truth; and if you do this, though it may seem to lead you away from the opinion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/keep-one-thing-in-view-forever-the-truth-and-if-you-do-this-though-it/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth; Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust; Lead me from hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kumar/lead-me-from-death-to-life-from-falsehood-to-truth-lead-me-from/) [Satish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kumar/) > [Tell the truth, but lead so improbable a life that the truth will never be believed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/tell-the-truth-but-lead-so-improbable-a-life-that-the-truth-will/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The truth may not lead you to where you thought you were going, but it will always lead you somewhere better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-may-not-lead-you-to-where-you-thought-you-were-going-but-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most people are afraid to follow their dreams. The thought of failure is too much for them to handle so they never even try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/most-people-are-afraid-to-follow-their-dreams-the-thought-of-failure/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [Most people are afraid to follow their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hughes/most-people-are-afraid-to-follow-their-dreams/) [Mike Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-hughes/) > [Follow your bliss. Find where it is and don't be afraid to follow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/follow-your-bliss-find-where-it-is-and-don-t-be-afraid-to-follow-it/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“THE ONE WHO STAYED You should have heard the old men cry, You should have heard the biddies When that sad stranger raised his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/the-one-who-stayed-you-should-have-heard-the-old-men-cry-you-should/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead…", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-truth-wherever-it-may-lead/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-truth-wherever-it-may-lead/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/thomas-jefferson-43_afraid_for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-tru_30059.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/thomas-jefferson-43_afraid_for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-tru_30059.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/thomas-jefferson-43_afraid_for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-tru_30059.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Jefferson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For here we are not afraid...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-truth-wherever-it-may-lead/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-truth-wherever-it-may-lead/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```